Judge denies bond to Columbus police officer accused of trying to have sex with 15-year-old girl

Rebecca McKinsey, The Columbus Dispatch

Monday

Jul 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 30, 2012 at 9:51 PM

A judge denied bond today to a Columbus police officer accused of trying to have sex with a 15-year-old girl. Officer Todd L. Smith, 49, appeared today before Judge Magistrate Norah McCann King in U.S. District Court in Columbus. The FBI arrested Smith last week after investigating allegations made by a Centennial High School student.

A judge denied bond today to a Columbus police officer accused of trying to have sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Officer Todd L. Smith, 49, appeared today before Judge Magistrate Norah McCann King in U.S. District Court in Columbus.

The FBI arrested Smith last week after investigating allegations made by a Centennial High School student.

Smith, a resource officer at the high school, was “relieved of his police duties” last week, a police spokesman said. He has been a Columbus police officer since 1986.

The girl told the FBI she and Smith had exchanged sexually explicit text messages and that he had tried to convince her to have sex with him.

The teen had sent Smith a topless photo of herself, according to FBI Special Agent Tisha Hartsough, who testified at Smith’s bond hearing.

The girl told agents that Smith called her into his office at the school on the last day of the 2011-12 school year, commented on her legs and tried to kiss her.

She also said Smith threatened her about telling anyone about their relationship.

She said she thought the news reports were about her text-based relationship with Smith during the last school year.

The second girl told agents that Smith attempted to have sex with her during an evening event at the school, and when he was unable, she performed oral sex on him.

King said she would not grant bond after hearing that the first girl said that Smith threatened her.

In 1992, an investigation found that Smith had made sexually suggestive comments to two women while working special-duty security at a S. Hamilton Road theater. He was accused of sexual harassment and unbecoming conduct.

He was suspended for 30 days and ordered to seek psychological counseling.

@RebeccaMcKinsey

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